In the news

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information for Interlink Direct Ltd because Bacillus cereus has been found in some batches of the product. Interlink Direct Ltd is taking the precautionary step of recalling Wangzhihe (WZH White Bean Curd) because Bacillus cereus has been found in some batches of this product. The possible presence of Bacillus cereus makes this product unsafe to eat. Products being recalled are sold with a pack size of 240g and have a best before date of 28 August 2023. @ https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-60-2022

The FDA reported that Exportadora Copramar recalled 1260 cases of James Farm frozen raspberries due to the potential of the product being contaminated with Hepatitis A. The FDA testing indicated the presence of Hepatitis A in the frozen raspberries identified by UPC Code: 76069501010 and Lot Code – 22-165. The recalled frozen raspberries are packaged in 10 lb James Farm branded cartons for food service. The product is exclusively sold through Restaurant Depot/Jetro locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. All inventories of the lot have been removed from Restaurant Depot/Jetro locations. There have been no illnesses or adverse reaction reports to date related to this product. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/exportadora-copramar-recalls-james-farms-frozen-raspberries-due-possible-health-risk

The FDA announced that a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 infections linked to Earth Grown frozen falafel is over as of December 1, 2022. There have been a total of 24 illnesses in six states (FL (2), IA (2), KS (1), MI (13), OH (1), and WI (5)). The last illness onset was October 24, 2022. Five people were hospitalized, and one person died. On October 7, 2022, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collected Earth Grown frozen falafel for testing from a sick person’s home. WGS done at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services showed that the E. coli strain in the falafel sample was closely related to the strain causing illness in this outbreak. On October 6, 2022, the manufacturer of Earth Grown frozen falafel, Cuisine Innovations, initiated a voluntary recall. Recalled products include Earth Grown vegan traditional falafel and garlic & herb falafel distributed and sold exclusively by ALDI. Additional information on recalled products is available in the firm’s recall notice. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o121h19-frozen-falafel-october-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Food Safe News reported that almost 200 people had been sickened in a multi-country Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak that has been ongoing for more than a year. 196 infections have been reported, with 89 people sick in Finland and 81 in the United Kingdom. Patients also live in the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Israel. Nineteen people were hospitalized, five had septicemia, and one in the UK died. Based on patient interviews from Finland and the UK, ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products or fresh chicken used in sandwiches and wraps are the likely sources of infection. Epidemiological data and microbiological data from WGS indicate several sources through different distribution chains, with a likely common source further up the supply chain. @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/12/nearly-200-sick-in-eu-and-uk-salmonella-outbreak/?utm_source=Food+Safety+News&utm_campaign=c8a41c21fc-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f46cc10150-c8a41c21fc-40253059